Samuel L Nicholson
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6LA, United Kingdom, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6LA, United Kingdom
Corresponding Author:[email protected]
Author ProfileRob Hosfield
Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AB, United Kingdom, Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AB, United Kingdom
Author ProfileHuw S Groucutt
Extreme Events Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Jena, Germany, Extreme Events Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Jena, Germany
Author ProfileAlistair W G Pike
Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BF, United Kingdom, Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BF, United Kingdom
Author ProfileDominik Fleitmann
Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AB, United Kingdom, Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AB, United Kingdom
Author ProfileAbstract
Homo sapiens dispersals out of Africa are often linked to
intensifications of the African Summer Monsoon and Indian Summer
Monsoon. Current dispersal models advocate that dispersals along the
“southern-route” into Arabia occurred during Glacial Termination-II
(T-II), when reduced sea-level and Bab-al-Mandab width increased the
likelihood of crossing. The precise phasing between sea-level and
monsoon precipitation is thus key to assess the likelihood of a
successful crossing or the behavioural and technological capacities that
facilitated crossing. Based on a precisely-dated stalagmite record from
Yemen we reveal a distinct phase-lag of several thousand years between
sea-level rise and monsoon intensification. Pluvial conditions in
Southern Arabia during MIS 5e lasted from ~127.7 to
~121.1 ka BP and occurred when sea-levels were already
higher than at present. Based on our observations, we propose three
models for the dispersal of H. sapiens which all have pertinent
implications for our understanding of human technological and
behavioural capacities during MIS 5e.